Flunk ’em out in Ravena

Our opinion: Scandal and embarrassment are everywhere in this school district. How about a brand new school board?

It’s reassuring, we suppose, that the state Education Department is doing what the law requires to investigate some of the shenanigans in the Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk school district.

The problem is that such action needs to come even faster, and extend further — from state officials, of course, but also ordinary citizens. This is more than occasional malfeasance in rural Albany County. It’s more like a textbook example of an abandonment of the public trust.

It’s time for this community to take back its schools. That means more vigilant monitoring of the board that’s ultimately responsible for them. Where do we begin?

Most prominently in the news is the May 15 school budget election. The Education Department is investigating complaints from two district residents alleging voter fraud, suspicion of the reported results and illegal electioneering.

It’s a laborious process that won’t yield an official finding for months — leaving everyone with a stake in these schools with reason to fear the next scandal.

Meantime, the school district’s own acknowledgement of irregularities in that election puts to shame the complaints that the Education Department is investigating.

Get this: More people voted than signed in at the polls. That’s right, 48 ballots cast seemingly out of nowhere — as if the election were a lesson in how politics operated in the bad old days of Albany County.

It doesn’t matter that the number of mystery voters wouldn’t have been enough to defeat a $41 million budget that stands — for now, anyway — awaiting the outcome of the Education Department inquiry.

More relevant is that the official explanation — “whatever the scenario, this issue is not being taken lightly by RCS” — is so unconvincing. This is the school system for which last week’s embarrassment — really, they come at such a steady pace — was the re-election of John Vadney as the school board president.

Yes, that John Vadney, back in what should be a position to restore some credibility despite facing a criminal charge of harassing the father of the former school board vice president. Among those on Mr. Vadney’s side in the 5-4 vote was Rodney Krzykowski, the self-described “sovereign citizen” who’s been trying to fend off a court complaint for having excessive trash and derelict vehicles on his property by claiming he’s above the law.

Why can’t the Education Department do something about this school board — like get rid of it? Following through on complaints about the budget election just isn’t enough — not at this point in this particular school district, where just 77 percent of students graduate on time.

The department needs to be more assertive about exercising its power, which includes removing school board members for “the willful violation or neglect of duty.”

True, the law that allows the removal comes with this striking caveat: “The commissioner considers removal a drastic remedy that should be taken only in extreme circumstances.” The law further states that such action requires a timely request for removal.

So, any takers, Ravena? Coeymans? Selkirk?

Had more than enough with such a farcical election and a board that undermines public confidence? Contact the Education Department.

Meantime, get more involved. Mr. Vadney and two of his colleagues are up for re-election next spring. It’s time for more responsible and engaged citizens to come forward and offer their services for a new board. Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk deserves better than this.

“Why can’t the Education Department do something about this school board — like get rid of it? Following through on complaints about the budget election just isn’t enough — not at this point in this particular school district, where just 77 percent of students graduate on time.”

To the school basher TU Editorial Board – The national graduation rate is 75.5 percent, and the average for NYS is 73.4 percent (these numbers are for 4 year graduates, so if a student takes an extra year or two, they are not counted). So your comment puts Ravena above the National and statewide average for graduating students. – I did not vote for the two bd members you are complaining about – but there is no reason to bash what our teachers and school professionals work hard to try and accomplish….

Really New York State! Why are ‘we’ the one’s shouldering this mess?? ‘You’re’ the one’s with all the tax dollars and high-paid lawyers! ‘You’re’ the one’s who should be keeping an eye on how these people are destroying a school district and misappropriating my tax dollars!! ‘YOU’ need to step up hear and deal with the fall-out – NOT the beaten down, TAX PAYING citizens of this town! I mean, why even bother paying my school tax bill? It’s just gonna go to the board president’s wife as a settlement or be squandered in some other shameful way by these people…That’s NOT what my school taxes were intended to support!

I’m waiting for someone to sue the NY State Department of Ed over this!

Thank you, Editorial Board, for not merely pointing out and jeering at all the extremely embarrassing incidents happening in our district, but instead, hightlighting the fact that something needs to be done. Indeed.

As residents, we’ve raised the question several times: why can’t the troublemakers be ousted? The answers that come back are vague and watered down but make it sound as if putting together proof of “willful violation or neglect of duty” would be a hugely difficult task.

What’s more is that there’s no one to lead the charge. Those who would do the right things are opting to keep their heads down and ride it out until May. This may not be such a bad idea. To head up the process to throw out an entire sitting BOE would drag the community through even more strife. It would get worse before it could even hope to get better.

The status of the current school board reflects the minimum standards set forth to be a member of the board. The only requirement is a 60 day residency in the school district. There are no requirements for passing a drug screen, not having a criminal record, no child abuse screen, no minimum education requirements. Our board would look considerably different if there were such standards in place.

Try being a teacher in this district.It is extremely frustrating, disheartening, and embarrassing to teach here. Don’t get me wrong, I love the work that I do. I love the students and faculty and staff that I work with. We have very dedicated teachers and staff that give it their all on a daily basis for the best interest of the students. I have been teaching for years in this district and I have seen it all. Not only is the board of education corrupt, but the administration is just as corrupt. We have administrators making decisions regarding educational matters for our students that consistently put us out of compliance on a number of issues. Things have been done illegally and out of compliance regarding our special education students and ESL students. These administrators blatantly break the law and don’t care. If a teacher or staff member ever speaks up on behalf of a student or doing what is right, the administration singles that individual out and brings retribution against them by having them reassigned to another building or position. Then the administration has the blatant audacity to say the person was reassigned due to their skill set or some such nonsense.
I do have to say that not every single one of the board members are bad. There are 5 board members that need to be removed because they are in constant conspiracy with each other to undermine the students, the teachers, the staff, and the school district as a whole. If these 5 people had their way, they would put the RCS school district out of business. The other 4 board members, I can honestly say, are there because they care about the district and the students and want to do what is right and give back to their community in a positive way.
I do agree that something needs to be done. However, and unfortunately, I don’t think the New York State Education Department is the answer because corruption and stupidity has made its way into their ranks as well.

Please do something so that all of the students and wonderful teachers of the past are not left wondering if the next generation has a chance. The school district adults need to step forward for the sake of children. NYS Ed can assist but the impetus must come from the community.

Our children do not attend RCS by our choice we send them elsewhere for several reasons. One of which is the poor quality of education in this district. The school board is not the only issue in this district where it seems to have a revolving door for superintendents and school business officers. The board is not solely responsible for the 77% graduate rate….that lies heavily on the shoulders of the teachers. If a quarter of the school population can not graduate within 4 years that says to me that something needs to be done about the teachers and the quality of their teaching skills. It seems interesting that the focus lies on only a couple of the Board members regarding how they spend our tax $ considering there are spouses of District teachers on the Board as well as former teachers or out of district teachers. This seems to be a conflict of interest in that these board members are voting on contractual issues that directly benefit someone in their household. Let’s look at all of the issues surrounding not only this Board but also the entire District’s mismanagement before condemning one or two members that have been vilified in the media. Hopefully some real change will come to this District, but without looking at the entire situation from the Board to the administration to the teachers themselves, RCS will continue to be the Capital Region joke it has become.

..you mean a conflict of interests like the board president’s wife, who filed a notice of claim for $15 million dollars against three entities of the district? Are you seriously going to tell me having a spouse that makes $60 or $70K a year is more of a conflict of interest than $15 MILLION dollars?? Isn’t our school budget at $41 Million? $15 Mill is an awful big chuck of that – and who do you think will vote to settle that lawsuit if it should come to pass??? Who do you think will PAY for it???
A private business owner (or those related to business owners) on the board present’s with a conflict of interest. After all, why would they be objective when considering a tax levy that would help the district but directly affect their businesses tax bill?? What about someone who doesn’t believe in paying taxes at all and owes the county and state over $60K in back taxes? Isn’t it a conflict of interest for him to be setting MY tax levy when he doesn’t pay his own??? His missing funds could supply the district with an activity or program since cut due to lack of funds. A private citizen filing a 310 Appeal that could reverse the budget vote, who is also a board member’s girlfriend is a conflict of interest. Why would he ever support what is right when his girlfriend is working so hard to turn back the hands on time? A BOE president whose family members continue to harass and intimidate residents of this town (on blogs, through phone calls and personal visits…and through “business meetings,” and on Facebook forums) is a conflict of interest. Why would someone who’s family is obviously so against supporting the schools in this district ever make a logical, fact-based or beneficial decision regarding our kids and schools??

Really?? This entire “teachers on the board” conflict-of-interest argument is LUDACRIS considering all the other glaring conflicts going on right now! I watched the board presidents brother rip apart a woman on a Facebook forum the other day for organizing a bottle drive. The funds are to support field trips for our kids. I don’t care if she only raised $2, at least she made a positive effort! No one paid her to do it. She took her own time and energy to arrange it. More than I can say for any entity on the BOE as of late. This board in its ENTIRETY is either working to destroy this place or sits there, hands folded, with a stupid, uncomfortable ‘smile’ on their faces doing NOTHING! Those who wanna help are afraid of what those destroying it might do in retaliation. You can blame outspoken residents and you can blame the media all you want – still doesn’t change the fact that these VERY REAL issues exist here and will continue until it is stopped! Fact is, the media would move on if there wasn’t a story to be had here. Do you really think they have nothing better to do with their time then spend it trashing Ravena? GET REAL! It’s time for the state to step in and clean house! Let them deal with the fall-out. They should be monitoring how my tax dollars are being squandered by these people – the money is not going where it should and I sure as hell am not sending in a tax bill if it goes to some bogus settlement, paid out to the BOE presidents wife!!

Thank God. Finally someone has written about this dysfunctional board.
RCS is in the paper (not for good) more than any other district in the region (including AHS). I am embarrassed to say I graduated from there.
I really enjoyed my high school years, with good friends, great teachers
(Mr. Donato, Mr. Hannigan and of course Mrs. Mueller) and a strong board. I cannot believe it has come to this. Something has to be done and FAST. Regardless of the few “good” board members and teachers, perception fast becomes reality to the outsider who constantly reads about the negative aspects of this district. Think of the kids and do something.

Like #11, we were also warned when we bought our house 14 years ago. We were specifically told that, if we could afford to send our kids to private school, then to do so and avoid RCS if possible. Nevertheless, we decided to go with RCS and, in all honesty, we’ve had no issues or complaints with regard to the level of education our kids are receiving. Both kids are being taught well, which is reflected in their NYS and other standardized test scores. We like their teachers and, moreover, we like the community.

The graduation rate statistics are based on PAST performance and speak nothing to the potential of students still making their way through. While I certainly hold our teachers to a high standard, I certainly DO NOT put the entire onus of my kids’ education on their shoulders. It’s MY job to ensure that the day’s lessons are followed up at home by making sure my kids do their homework and also making sure that they understand what they’ve learned. If they don’t, then it’s MY job to engage their teachers and work out the kinks. As a parent, I am not a helpless bystander in my kids’ educations. If they were to fall into the 23% of students that didn’t graduate on time, much of that blame would lay on me. Not the board, not the teachers.

I hear residents who are upset because the district is doing nothing to elevate the community. But the community must also do its part to elevate the district. The editorial is correct in pointing out that we, as “ordinary citizens”, have the ability to do just that.

Thank you TU for finally stating what I’ve been thinking for weeks, that something needs to be done on the state level here. Sure, residents can step up next May and vote Vadney, Krzykowski et al out the door. But by that time, irreparable damage will have been done. We have the sovereign citizen who thinks he’s above the law and paying his local taxes, yes, that’s bad enough. Now you have the board president, John Vadney, threatening people over the phone (“We know where you live…” he reportedly told another board member’s father: What is this, the mafia?) and planning to sue the school district for $15 million! And he’s still on the board? Gee, I sure hope he gets to vote on a nice settlement for himself and his family. I guess that some sort of retirement package for all his hard work. Please! Get rid of Vadney and Krzykowski before they ruin this nice district! The voters will take care of the rest come May.

You know you’re a redneck if – you vote to relect any of the woodchucks that are currently on the Board of Education.

C’mon folks – anybody – step up and run to become a new Board member -you can’t be any worse than any of the current lot! From the juvenile-minded President, to the ex-VP, to her daddy, to nut-job “sovereign citizens” – you have got to be kidding me – this is pathetically laughable! Throw these clowns out!!! Run for the Board!

I guess dumping it on the kids with the Post-It note thing didn’t survive long as a distraction…

…I too was warned about this district over a decade ago, but – like a lot of people here – I can’t afford to move to Delmar or Clifton Park where schools are better. It’s “here” or I leave the state…and a job that’s provided for over 12 years.
AND, thanks to this BS, those of us who couldn’t afford a move a few months back, certainly can’t now! Who in their right mind would ever buy property here?? You’d have to be living under a rock not to know what’s happening! So, unless a couple senior citizens want my place, I am stuck – like a lot of people…and, you know what?? I’m damn tired of being stuck with this disgraceful mess day in and day out! “Just move on,” “Get over it!,” “Be positive!,” “Ignore it!,” HOW???? How can any of us FORGET all this when it’s constantly perpetuated??? These are major problems that need to be dealt with – they ain’t going away on their own! So, what, I’m suppose to pretend nothing is going on?? For real?? How is that helping my son? I’d say that’s letting him down in pretty major way! And, like most parents, I don’t like to let my kid down! I don’t want to dwell on this anymore! What choice do we all have – we are forced to live the dream! And, I’m angry! I’m angry that this mess and the people causing it are taking time away from the things that are supposed to be important in life! I want to attend a function at my son’s school without stewing over these issue’s, marring the event! I don’t want to be embarrassed to tell people where I live! I love my neighbors and, I kind of like my home…and this unyielding bullsh*t is robbing me (us all) of joys like that! Like a lot of people, I feel totally let down…and am stunned at how “the powers” who can fix this just sit by and watch from the sidelines. This is to the point where it warrants outside intervention – not in a few months, not next year….but NOW! The state has left us high-and-dry with NO options (except to wait until next May)…and the board knows it! The arrogance in despicable! So, what are we suppose to do – Guess I’m suppose to grab a torch, pitchfork, a “trusty steed” and storm the castle, right? THANKS NEW YORK! Thanks for nothing!!

The woodchucks and trash residing in our district put those woodchucks in office. And, they put another one in office this year!!!

People, go to a board meeting. Watch the guy up front wearing dirty clothes who’s in over his head. Watch another one chomping on a lolly pop who cant compose a sentence when he speaks. Watch as another giving cues to his girlfriend to speak. Those are the people YOU, yes YOU put there! If you dont like it, dont vote for them or their lackies, vote for others who dont share their lowlife qualities. Go to the meetings and speak up. Dont be afraid of being abused by the blog that insults and bashes anyone who doesn’t agree with the Vadney clowns.

A note on commenting: We don’t allow comments that speculate on who commenters are. It’s poor netiquette, it usually is involves a personal attack, and even it’s only part of a comment, it won’t get through. –JJ

I, too, am relatively new to the district, moving here abt 11 years ago. I had reservations about RCS, but didn’t want a large school like Bethlehem, RCS was on an upswing, and everyone said parent involvement. No problem, we are involved. Kids are doing great in the lower grades. But this BOE seems want a bare bones budget and provide basic education (chalk and blackboard anyone?)

So now that we are moving into the upper grades, what to do? They would be “fine” at RCS; is “fine” acceptable? Do we move? What family would want to move into this district? Plus, I like my house. So now I get to pay my ridiculous tax bill as well as private school tuition — woo hoo!

Adding salt to the wound are the BOE members who have various MILLION dollar lawsuits against the district, those who owe TENS of THOUSANDS of dollars in back taxes, and now I wonder if some recent decisions made by the BOE could open the district up to further litigation. Who pays for this people??? The taxPAYERS!!!

BOE members should be subject to MANDATORY background checks. Do you live in the district? Are you 18? Can you read and write? GREAT! You can run for the BOE….here is $42 Million.

God help the politician who comes knocking on my door this upcoming election season! You are going to get an ear full!!!

It is sad and ignorant when people use derogatory and boorish words as well as anti-gay slurs to bully others as Mr. Vadney has.
“Vadney became verbally abusive and threatening over the phone and insulting to Mr. Tracey by calling names such as ‘little girl,’ and made reference to Mr. Tracey being homosexual,” court documents state. Times Union – June 21, 2012
Mr. Vadney should know better than to bully people by saying they are “being homosexual.” Now THAT is pitiful!
Edward H.

#18
I didn’t vote for any of these “woodchucks.” I didn’t give any of these people their seat and I sure don’t approve of what’s going on in this town! I refuse to throw my hands up in the air and say, “Oh well – they were voted in!”…guess I have to live with it. A lot of these issue’s came about AFTER these “woodchucks” got their seats. I’m sure, if a lot of residents had a crystal ball the day they voted, they wouldn’t have picked who they did! But, now we’re stuck with them…and their is gross neglect here on several levels. It’s gone beyond “lets just vote them out.” A lot of actions are borderline criminal….and it’s time the state stepped in a did something! PERIOD!

…and here’s another idea: How about having the meetings when people CAN come!!! Not everyone is free Tuesday night’s at 6 p.m. Is it appropriate to bring my kid under ten to the meeting for four hours to listen to all this?? I don’t have the luxury of child care at night. Hey – how about this: for those of us who watch diligently from home (and still care – just because we can’t sit there doesn’t mean we don’t CARE), maybe they can turn on the comments option on the streaming video site! Not a hard thing to do – that way, people at home – who are just as active as those sitting in the seats – can supply input, ask questions and have their opinions heard!!

Well number 18……u may not have voted for them…however we are a community and what we all do collectively are what we are left with to deal with. People didnt need a crystal ball to see what would happen after they put these people in. If people would just simply observe what goes on around them and remember the losers we come across during our daily lives…we all could have avoided this. I went to school with some of the board members…then observed how they handled themselves as adults…and cant believe folks turned out in droves to put them in office. Yes we are a community and this crap shows who we really are. Everyone can prove me wrong by getting rid of them next year and keeping them out in future years.

I’m sorry, I didn’t have the displeasure of attending school with these losers. I don’t know their family tree…and I’m not chummy with all the boys hanging around the local convenience store to be privy to such town folk lore. And hopefully, with a little luck, maybe my kid won’t have to, either – one way or another! Still doesn’t change – or justify – ANYTHING at the moment – regardless of who voted for who! They’re in the seats now, aren’t they? The citizens of this town shouldn’t have to form some rogue gang to deal with this absurd situation. They shouldn’t be the ones to absorb the threats, intimidation and bogus lawsuits that may arise because of all this! If the state gets off their collective a$$es to investigate some ‘skewed’ BS voter fraud claim, they sure as hell should look into everything else going on here! It is not the community’s responsible at this point to deal with all the fallout coming down the pipe at the moment. Yeah, there is a vote coming in May….MAY – that’s a long way off. Something needs to be done NOW!

…one last thought: if you went to school or grew up here, why not treat those who didn’t as part of YOUR community, instead of treating us as “outsiders!?” Like you stated, we all live here together, no? I find that a lot of people (not all, but several) who grew up/went to school here, want nothing to do with “outsiders”…even if we’ve been here, paying our tax bill, for over 12 years now. If you have insights, perhaps you can share them all with the community come May…you know, so “we all” don’t make the same mistakes again.

You know, for the past five months, I’ve been watching this so-called “community” vilify those people who HAVE tried to get information out about these board members! I can’t count the number of times I’ve heard people complain again and again about the first RK story in the Times Union and the people who were working to get that info. heard. Instead of taking that information, as suggested by notinbcdistrict, and using it to make informed decisions, this “community” – those who grew up here and those who didn’t – decided to aim their disdain toward the people who tried to inform the populous by ousting this mess.
So, besides those sitting in the stands on Tuesday’s, there are lots of others who donate their time, money and efforts in more “hands on” ways. Perhaps you don’t know of them all – doesn’t mean it’s not happening. Like blmb724, I don’t appreciate the insinuation that those who can’t drag their kids to a meeting every Tuesday are somehow “not as involved.” Perhaps you need to chat with the locals and tell them to support the effort of those who try to shed light on this mess – instead of shunning them from this “community” with jeers and threats!

How to remove a board member: http://www.ehow.com/how_6799992_remove-school-board-members.html
“In some instances, a school board member will fail to meet the duties assigned to him. If members of the district recognize this failure, then they may try to remove the board member from the school board. This option can be effective at rejuvenating a school when a board member’s incompetence or unethical practices prevent the board as a whole from moving forward in support of students. Every state follows basically the same procedure for removing school board members”.

re # 28….How am i treating you as an outsider? I’ve never indicated those who werent born and raised here to be any less a part of the community. Please get off your high horse….if some clique doesnt accept you…thats their problem…..move on an friend those who will. they’re out there. Oh, and please dont disregard the wisdom of some of us long timers, we’ve seen and dealt with other past BS you may not be aware of. Lets please keep this forum to the BS related to the board.